California has continued its efforts to stymie the Trump administration’s policies, successfully blocking a change in homelessness strategy — for the time being. In November 2025, after the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) mandated that jurisdictions use no more than 30% of federal homelessness funds for permanent housing, California Governor Gavin Newsom joined other states in suing to stop the changes. After a federal judge in Rhode Island shot down the policy shift, the Trump administration appealed their decision, but recently dropped their appeal, leaving the original funding in place as litigation continues. Notably, HUD’s new rules included…
Author: Cliff Rudsky
California voters will be able to decide whether residents must show ID to vote, after a Republican-spearheaded initiative received sufficient signatures for the November election. Whether the initiative passes, particularly in a year where anti-Trump midterm sentiment will be at a fever pitch, is up in the air. But in a state where the Democratic Party has held a long-term lock on electoral power, statewide popular-vote measures remain one of the few areas where conservatives can still make an impact. A recent California poll showed that 44% of voters were in favor of requiring voter ID, 45% were against it,…
In the latest “unprecedented” feud that is “dividing” Republican voters — so we are told — President Donald J. Trump took aim at Pope Leo XIV after the pontiff criticized him over the Iran War. After Pope Leo took issue with Trump’s hyperbolic threat to end Iranian civilization immediately preceding the ceasefire, the president blasted the pontiff on Truth Social, saying, “I don’t want a Pope who thinks it’s OK for Iran to have a nuclear weapon.” Trump also claimed that the pope was pandering to the radical Left, and he called for him to “[…] focus on being a…
The MeToo’ing and subsequent resignation of Congressman Eric Swalwell has eliminated one of the California gubernatorial race’s Democratic frontrunners, but the party has still failed to rally around a single candidate. Due to the open primary system the state uses, this has raised the prospect of a Republican vs. Republican election, should GOP candidates Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco finish in the top two. Realistically, this is the only way the Republican Party can currently win in the state, due to the Democrats’ lopsided electoral advantage. Current polls show Hilton, who received President Donald J. Trump’s endorsement, in first place,…
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin recently suggested that U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials would stop processing passengers at major airports in sanctuary cities. Mullin mentioned that U.S. regions refusing to cooperate with President Donald J. Trump’s immigration policies may see customs officials removed from their airports. If implemented, this would prevent international traffic. Due to the fact that the Trump administration has classified San Francisco, and California as a whole, as “sanctuary jurisdictions,” Mullin’s comments drew predictable backlash in the state. In a social media post, California Governor Gavin Newsom wrote, “If you thought the economy was…
It’s safe to say that President Donald J. Trump’s political opponents haven’t exactly come up with any novel arguments against him since his first term. Talk of invoking the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office has once again popped up, with Democratic Congressman Jamie Raskin also demanding a cognitive test for good measure. Raskin raised the issue in response to Trump’s rhetoric against Iran prior to the two-week ceasefire, in which he threatened to wipe out the country’s civilization if they did not come to an agreement. Other past Trump foes like former CIA Director John Brennan have come…
The Democratic Party is continuing to split over support of Israel, as their left wing increasingly is coming out against all military aid to the nation. At a recent New York City Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) meeting, Congressman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez pledged to vote against any funding for military aid to Israel. Her previous stance on opposing sending offensive weapons to Israel, but supporting funding for the Iron Dome missile defense system, had landed her in hot water with some members of the organization. Last year, she had voted against an amendment to the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, proposed…
Governor Gavin Newsom has previously remarked that the Democratic Party will need to be more “culturally normal” if they hope to improve their standing in future elections. Recently resurfaced comments from his wife, though, raise doubts on if he’ll be the one who can lead that charge. In interview footage that drew attention on social media, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the self-styled “first partner” of California, remarked that she gave her sons dolls to play with, “[…] even if they tear the head off.” According to Newsom, this is to teach her sons that caregiving is not a female-exclusive activity. You…
The Supreme Court’s conservative justices recently appeared to side with President Donald J. Trump’s push to restrict mail-in voting, though a decision on the issue is not expected until this summer. In a hearing on the issue, the Court listened to arguments on whether ballots postmarked for Election Day, but received five business days after, should still be counted. The Republican National Committee (RNC) has challenged a Mississippi law that allows such ballots to be counted, claiming that only one Election Day is established by federal law. Justice Samuel Alito seemed to side with this assessment, quipping, “We don’t have…
San Francisco may have swung to the right on crime in the last few years, but its political leadership has stubbornly refused to back any meaningful immigration enforcement. After video surfaced of ICE agents detaining an illegal immigrant and her daughter at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Mayor Daniel Lurie was quick to defend San Francisco’s status as a “sanctuary city.” Responding to allegations that the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) had assisted the agents, Lurie said, “Our sanctuary policies are here. They are in place. They’re not going anywhere as long as I am mayor.” SF Board of Supervisors…